The kind of work that introduces itself.
When you refer a friend or family to Swartz Portraits, you share more than a name. You share the standard. Past families have built this program one introduction at a time, and the rewards reflect it: a lifetime counter that never resets, a heirloom at the first referral, and milestones worth waiting for.
Refer a FamilyFounding Families
A two-minute introduction, made by you.
Past Swartz Portraits families and active Senior Ambassadors.
A new family who books, is photographed, and completes a collection.
Lifetime. It never resets, whatever the class year.
Every referred family receives a small custom gift at their consultation.
Ten families. Then it closes.
Swartz Portraits photographed more than a thousand seniors before coming to Texas. The first ten Texas families of the Class of 2027 and 2028 to complete their heirloom collection become our Founding Families. Each receives an additional 10x10 matted fine art print with their collection, and, with their permission, their portraits become the first Texas work we show.
There is nothing to apply for. Complete a collection and you are in, until the tenth family closes it.
Every referral counts. The milestones are the recognition.
Your referral counter never resets. Every successful referral counts toward your lifetime total, regardless of when it happens or which class year the referred family belongs to.
24x24 Floating Frame
A signature 24x24 floating-frame heirloom featuring one of your senior's portraits, produced by our heirloom production partner and personally inspected by Ty before delivery.
6th–9th
$100 Print Credit
Each referral between milestones earns a $100 credit toward additional heirlooms from your senior's session or a future family order.
$500 Gift Card
A $500 gift card of your choosing, Amazon, Visa, or another retailer that fits your family, delivered after the referred family completes their collection.
$1,000 Gift Card
A $1,000 gift card of your choosing, reserved for the families whose advocacy has shaped Swartz Portraits in Texas.
Ambassadors earn the same milestones.
If you have been selected as a Swartz Portraits Senior Ambassador for the Class of 2027 or 2028, this program is one of your strongest perks. Ambassadors qualify for the same lifetime rewards as past families: the 24x24 floating frame at the first successful referral, a $500 gift card at the fifth, and $1,000 at the tenth. Many ambassadors begin earning referrals before their own sessions are complete.
The process is simple. The recognition is earned.
Introduce
Complete the referral form with your information and the family you would like to introduce. We respect their privacy: confirm that you have their permission to share their contact information, or that you will personally introduce them and let them start the conversation.
Consultation
The referred family schedules their free in-home consultation, Monday through Friday at 6:00 or 8:00 pm. They receive their welcome gift, see the heirloom products in person, and learn about the application-only experience that limits Ty to 100 seniors a year.
Session and Reveal
If the family chooses to proceed, their senior is photographed the way yours was: up to five hours, unlimited outfits, locations chosen to honor the senior. After the session, the family sees the finished portraits at their reveal and chooses their heirloom collection.
Your Reward
Once the referred family completes their collection, your lifetime counter advances. If that advance crosses a milestone, your reward is prepared and delivered. We send a personal note with every milestone.
Two minutes. Their name, your name, a sentence about why you thought of them. We take it from there.
The details families ask about.
Who is eligible to refer?
Two groups: past Swartz Portraits clients, meaning parents or legal guardians of seniors who have completed a session and purchased a collection, and active Senior Ambassadors. If you have walked through the experience yourself, or you have been selected as an ambassador, you are eligible.
I am a Senior Ambassador. How does this work for me?
Ambassadors earn the same milestone rewards as past clients, and the lifetime counter does not reset. For ambassadors under 18, all reward delivery and any IRS Form 1099-MISC documentation is issued to the parent or legal guardian on file.
When do I earn my reward?
When the referred family completes their heirloom collection after the reveal. Booking a session is not enough; the family must move all the way through the experience and choose heirlooms. This protects the integrity of the program.
What counts as a successful referral?
A family new to Swartz Portraits who books a consultation, completes a senior session, and purchases a collection. Family members of the referrer, prior inquiries, and self-referrals do not qualify. The Program Terms below carry the complete definition.
Does the counter ever reset?
No. Every successful referral you make, in any year, counts toward the milestones. Referrals accumulate for life.
What if I do not have their permission to share contact information?
Submit the form with your own contact information and a note about the family. Then introduce them personally and direct them to inquire when they are ready. Either path counts.
How do I track my referrals?
Every referral is recorded against your client file. When a referred family completes their collection, you receive a personal note from Ty acknowledging it. We track the count so you do not have to.
Where does Swartz Portraits photograph?
Swartz Portraits is based in Conroe, Texas 77385 and photographs on location across The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Tomball, Cypress, and the greater Houston metro within a hundred-mile working radius. Consultations and reveals happen in the family's home.
Can I refer a Class of 2028 family if my own senior is older?
Yes. Class of 2028 applications are open now, and many referrals come from families whose own senior already completed the experience. Your counter advances regardless of the referred family's class year.
Will my reward affect my own portrait order?
No. Referral rewards are separate from any current or future heirloom orders you place with Swartz Portraits.
The fine print.
These terms govern the referral program operated by Swartz Portraits, based in Conroe, Texas. By submitting a referral or accepting a program reward, the referrer agrees to these terms.
Eligibility
The program is open to two participant groups: (a) past Swartz Portraits clients, defined as parents or legal guardians who have completed a senior portrait session with Swartz Portraits and purchased heirloom products from that session; and (b) active Swartz Portraits Senior Ambassadors, defined as seniors selected for the current ambassador class as confirmed by Swartz Portraits records. Past-client referrers must be at least 18 years of age. Ambassador participants under 18 may participate with parent or legal guardian consent on file. Swartz Portraits employees, contractors, and immediate family of Ty Swartz are not eligible.
Senior Ambassador participants under 18
For ambassador participants under 18, all reward delivery, IRS Form W-9 collection, and IRS Form 1099-MISC documentation will be issued to the parent or legal guardian of record, who assumes responsibility for tax obligations on rewards received on behalf of the ambassador.
Definition of successful referral
A successful referral is a family that satisfies all of the following: (a) is new to Swartz Portraits with no prior inquiry, consultation, or booking on file as of the referral submission date; (b) is identified by name, contact information, or other identifying detail on the submitted referral form; (c) books a consultation within twelve months of the referral submission date; (d) completes a senior portrait session; and (e) purchases heirloom products after the reveal. Family members of the referrer, self-referrals, and referrals of prior inquiries do not qualify.
Reward structure
The program is a lifetime cumulative milestone reward. Milestone rewards are issued at the 1st, 5th, and 10th successful referral. The counter does not reset by calendar year, class year, or any other interval. 1st successful referral: a 24x24 floating-frame heirloom piece featuring one of the referrer's senior portraits, produced by Swartz Portraits' standard heirloom production partner and delivered after personal inspection by Ty Swartz. 5th successful referral: a $500 gift card from a generic retailer of the referrer's choice (Amazon, Visa, or comparable); the retailer must be communicated in writing within thirty days of reward notification. 10th successful referral: a $1,000 gift card, selected the same way.
Referrals 2 through 4 and 6 through 9: each earns a $100 print credit toward heirloom products from Swartz Portraits. Print credits have no cash value, do not expire, may be combined, and are applied to the referrer's next heirloom order.
Founding Families
The first ten Texas families of the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 to complete a heirloom collection purchase receive one additional 10x10 matted fine art print from their senior's session at no charge. Portfolio use of a Founding Family's portraits requires the family's written permission and is never a condition of the offer. The offer closes when the tenth collection is completed, as confirmed by Swartz Portraits records.
When rewards are earned
A reward is earned at the moment the referred family completes their heirloom product purchase. Referrals where the family books a session but does not complete a purchase do not advance the counter. Rewards are prepared and delivered within sixty days of milestone confirmation.
Tax reporting and W-9 requirement
Recipients are responsible for any tax obligations resulting from program rewards. Swartz Portraits will issue IRS Form 1099-MISC to any recipient whose annual reward total exceeds $600 in a calendar year. A completed IRS Form W-9 will be requested before issuance of the $500 milestone reward, the $1,000 milestone reward, or any reward that brings the recipient's annual program total above $600. Failure to provide a completed W-9 within thirty days of request may delay issuance or, where required by federal law, result in withholding.
Material connection disclosure
Participants acknowledge that they receive compensation in the form of program rewards for successful referrals. Federal Trade Commission guidance requires disclosure of this material connection when participants recommend Swartz Portraits to others. Swartz Portraits encourages participants to be transparent with the families they refer.
Permission to share contact information
By submitting a referral, the referrer represents that either (a) the referrer has the referred family's permission to share their name and contact information with Swartz Portraits, or (b) the referrer will personally introduce the family and direct them to contact Swartz Portraits on their own initiative. Swartz Portraits will not contact a referred family directly without explicit confirmation of permission on the referral form.
Privacy
All information submitted through the referral form is handled in accordance with the Swartz Portraits Privacy Policy. Referred families receive the same data protection as direct inquiries. The referrer's name is not disclosed to the referred family without explicit consent.
Verification and sole discretion
Swartz Portraits retains sole discretion in determining whether a referral qualifies under these terms. Edge cases are resolved in good faith and in favor of the referrer where reasonable.
Program modification and termination
Swartz Portraits may modify or terminate the program at any time with reasonable advance notice posted to this page. Earned rewards from completed successful referrals at the time of any modification or termination will be honored under the terms in effect when the referrals were submitted.
Jurisdiction
This program is operated from Conroe, Texas 77385. Any dispute arising from the program is governed by the laws of the State of Texas and will be resolved in the appropriate Texas court.
Contact
Questions about the program can be directed to Swartz Portraits at tswartz@swartzportraits.com or (832) 305-5426.
Two minutes. We take it from there.
Open the Referral FormApply for a Session
Prefer to talk? Call or text (832) 305-5426
Consultations and reveals are Monday through Friday at 6:00 or 8:00 pm, by appointment, in your home. Sessions are photographed on Saturdays and Sundays.